All Saints - Studio 1 (Album)

9:00am Thursday 23rd November 2006

IT would be optimistic to claim that the All Saints' return has been long awaited.

But it was with mild curiosity that I picked up the new album.

I liked a lot of their singles (I Know Where It's At, Pure Shores and War of Nerves were great) so the announcement that the four had got back together was well received.

So it's with some disappointment that I listened to Studio 1. Because for the large part, most of the pop power of days gone by has been lost. A curious mix of reggae and hip hop seems to have replaced it. New single Rock Steady is a curious choice, to say the least: there is little that is memorable or exciting about it.

On and On is the outstanding track but there is little else to recommend it. Having said that, it'll be better than whatever the Spice Girls release when they get back together, as they undoubtedly will.